2. It is a profession of our dependence. We do not enjoy our mercies by chance, or by good fortune (as we speak), but by the indulgence and gift of God. Now, that we may not be ignorant of the nature of our tenure, God will have us pray, that we may acknowledge his right and grant in all that we possess and enjoy. Thus, Mat. vi., God biddeth us ask ' our daily bread ; ' the bread you eat is not your own, but God's. You entrench upon his prerogative when you use it without his leave ; as when we take anything that is our neighbour's, without asking his leave, we are thieves and robbers. To use the creatures without prayer is robbery ; and without praise, is sacrilege : therefore it is said, 1 Tim. iv. 5, ' That every creature is sanctified b)"" the word and prayer.' In the word we know our liberty ; in prayer we ask God's leave and blessing ; therein we acknowledge the donor of all we have and hope for : Ps. Ixii. 8, ' Trust in the Lord at all times, pour out your heart before him.' If we depend upon God, we mus-t pray to him, and seek for a relief in all our troubles. Those that depend upon his relief will earnestly beg it of him, and apply them- selves to him by prayer.
3. It is a duty wherein the mysteries of our most holy faith are reduced to practice. There are two great mysteries in the christian religion — the doctrine of the trinity, and the mediation of the Son of God. We have the comfort of both in prayer ; and we never practi- cally and experimentally discern the benefit of it so much as there. (1.) The mystery of the trinity. It seemeth a profound speculation, till we find the use of it in our addresses to God : Eph. ii. 18,
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' Through hiiu we hare access by one Spirit unto the Father.' The mystery is unriddled when a poor soul cometh to God through Christ by the Spirit. When a needy and guilty soul would have any gift and benefit from God, he is discouraged till he reflect upon the merit and mediation of Jesus Christ, and put his cause into his hands ; and yet he knoweth not whether Christ will tender his suit, or regard it yea or no, until he be encouraged by the Spirit. The whole process of soul affairs, or the workings of a needy guilty soul towards God, may be put into this short issue : God, as a lawgiver and judge, which is our first apprehension of him, by the sphit of bondage driveth us to Christ as mediator ; Christ, as mediator, by the spirit of adoption bringeth us back again to God as a father, or one that is able and willing to show mercy. When we first think of God, his terror and majesty oppress our hearts with fears ; but we must have grace, or we are undone for ever ; but there is no grace, no salvation, in any other but Jesus Christ, who hath procured us welcome and audience. He giveth us leave to come to God, having opened the door by his merit and intercession ; and the spirit and heart to come. (2.) The mediation of Jesus Christ. He died to bring us to God, 1 Peter iii. 18 ; and our great duty is coming to God by him, Heb. vii. 25. But where do we so sensibly find this as in the duty of prayer, wherein we have experience how Christ bringeth us to God ? He doth, in efiect, there take us by the hand, and lead us to God, and hideth our sins, and procureth our acceptance, and presenteth us amiable to his Father, having justified and sanctified us, and cleansed us from those pollutions which rendered us loathsome and abominable in his sight. Do you know, christians, what you neglect, when you neglect prayer, one of the most concerning acts of your religion P If you omit it whoUy, you do not deserve the name of christians ; if you perform it rarely and unfrequently, you are not serious christians ; or if you put off" God with a few frozen and heartless words, you are not lively christians.
4. One special end of prayer is to nourish communion and familiarity between God and us ; for it is the converse of a loving soul with God, between whom there is a mutual complacency. God delighteth in us, and we delight in God ; it is the nearest familiarity that man in flesh can have with God, and therefore called ' an acquainting ourselves with God: ' Job xxii. 21, 'Acquaint thyself with God, and good shall come unto thee.' Acquaintance among men groweth by frequent commerce and intercoui'.-e, when they often meet and speak one to another ; so by this holy commerce with God we grow acquainted with him. So a visit of God : Isa. xxvi. 16, ' In trouble have they visited thee.' In prayer we give God a visit. Well then, when you neglect prayer, you neglect to give God a visit, or to preserve an acquaintance between him and you ; and it is as if a man were weary of the presence of his dear- est friend. Should we stand off from this work, or go to it as a bear to the stake, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, or an ox to the yoke ? Now this familiarity is the more to be prized, because it is said, that ' thereby good shall come unto us ; ' and that upon a double account, (1.) Partly, as it giveth boldness in our present distresses. When God and you are grown strange, you cannot come with that